7/10/2023
Tyler County Speedway
Tyler Carpenter Captures 36th Annual Earl Hill Memorial
The Tyler County Speedway lived up to it's monicker as 'America's Baddest Bullring' with an action-packed night of racing action, featuring the running of the Mountain States oldest and longest running memorial race. The 36th annual Earl Hill Memorial, presented by Middletown Homes in New Martinsville, WV, had fans on the edge of their seats the entire 50 laps and added Tyler Carpenter's name to the race's prestigious list of winning drivers. Jesse Wisecarver, Brandon Weigle, Lance Weppler, Cody Brightwell, Joey Price, Blake Tasker and Cruz Thomas also garnered top honors in their respective classes.
3-time Earl Hill memorial winner Mike Benedum took the early lead in the 50 headliner, before a rim-riding Kyle Thomas found enough room to squeeze past on a frontstretch pass on lap 6. Thomas set sail, as the battle for second intensified, allowing himself some breathing room. Benedum's car fell off the pace and the battle for second now involved Carpenter, 8th starting Drake Troutman, fast qualifier Ryan Montgomery and 5th starting Jared Hawkins. Carpenter and Troutman were riding the cushion while Montgomery and Hawkins chose to work the middle and low lanes of the high banks. Thomas caught the back of the field near the race's midpoint, allowing the hounds to catch the fox. Carpenter now had both Troutman and Hawkins on his tail and the 4 lead cars were packed tight in a race between themselves and through lapped traffic. It was the 'Kamikaze Kid' who timed his run perfectly, finding a sliver of daylight in the pack to take the lead from Thomas, then holding off Hawkins through a pair of late race cautions in a popular and thrilling finish. "I'm thrilled" said a jubilant winner afterwards. "I saw Jared's nose under me and knew he would run me clean, but I couldn't make a mistake, either. I love running here but this place has always kicked my butt. It feels great to finally get a quality win here. Hats off to John (promoter John Watson) for the track prep, this place was awesome to race on". Carpenter took home $5,080 for his efforts and etched his name among an impressive list of the race's winning drivers. Jared Hawkins, substituting for brother Jake in the familiar #37 shadowed Carpenter the final 15 circuits but came up a car length short at the checkered flag. Keystone state racer Drake Troutman was third, 9th starting Jesse Wisecarver was 4th and 7th starting Daniel Hill, grandson of the late Earl Hill, rounded out the top 5. 33 Super Late Models attempted to qualify for the race.
Chad Smith bolted off the pole to take the early lead in the Jenkins Auto Parts UMP Modified main, holding serve until Jesse Wisecarver, doing double duty, methodically worked his way from his 5th starting position to begin a 5-lap side by side race for the top spot. As Wisecarver took command, all eyes were on Shawn Jett who was charging from the tail of the field after an opening lap spin. Jett blasted the cushion lap after lap, picking cars off as the laps ticked off and making his way to second and the leaders bumper when a caution slowed the pace. His charge ended there as Wisecarver adjusted his line and held Jett at bay for the final 3 circuits, earning his first 2023 win at 'America's Baddest Bullring'. Jett's crowd-pleasing charge came up one position short, with Smith, Doug Carson and Lance Elson rounding out the top 5 finishers in another highly entertaining race.
Brandon Weigle continued his hot-streak in the J&R Excavating RUSH Late Models, notching his 5th win of the season in convincing fashion. Kyle Thomas charged off the tail after a lap one caution to finish second, followed by Donnie Dotson, newcomer Lane Brock and George Casto who rounded out the top 5 finishers.
Jeff Gorrell looked poised to win his first Middlebourne Galaxy Foodcenter Sportmod feature, leading the early laps before 3rd starting Lance Weppler announced his arrival. The pair raced door to door for multiple laps, Gorrell turning back the multi-time winner Weppler, as the duo put on a show for the appreciative crowd. Just after Weppler finally prevailed, a back marker spun in front of the pair. Weppler avoided major damage but a flat tire ended Gorrell's fine effort. Tyler Spencer took Gorrell's former position on the restart, but despite his best efforts Weppler was too strong, leading runner-up Spencer, 17th starting Wesley Reed, Sonny Conley and Levi Nolan, who finished with a season best 5th place run.
Cody Brightwell went back to his racing roots and scored a win in the J&L Collision Center EDGE Hot Mod feature race. The 7th starting Brightwell bested class point leader Brian Propst, 8th starting Tim Spencer, Kevin Dotson and Carson Thomas.
Joey Price and Travis Corbin took the gloves off and duked it out for 12 hotly contested laps in the Dual Threat Sports Cards SCDRA 4-cylinder feature. Swapping the lead and trading paint, the pair had fans on their feet as Price took the lead for good late in the contest to earn his first ever Bullring main event. Billy Dawson, Rob Siers and Timothy Harlan completed the top 5 rundown.
In the 'Little League of Auto Racing', Blake Tasker and Cruz Thomas took top honors for the Hino Motors Manufacturing USA Mini-Wedges, as the race honored the memory of former Mini-Wedge racer PJ ‘Buckwheat' Wright, with his family presenting trophies to the top 5 finishers in both the Sr and Jr divisions in his memory and honor.
America's Baddest Bullring will take a one week 'racing vacation'. The next race on the docket will be the Saturday, July 22nd running of the 21st annual 'Eaton Childer's Memorial Race', headlining the RUSH travelling Late Model Series. Also on tap will be a bicycle give-away for the kids.
Race Results:
36th Annual Earl Hill Memorial (Stutler Motorsports Super Late Models): Tyler Carpenter, Jared Hawkins, Drake Troutman, Jesse Wisecarver, Daniel Hill, Kyle Thomas, Henry Hornsby III, Travis Brown, Daniel Adams, Steve Weigle, Ryan Payne, Lucas McDonald, Ryan Montgomery, Michael Lake, Robbie Scott, Todd Brennen, Tyler Riggs, Mike Benedum, Brian Baumberger, Ronnie Mayle. (DNQ) Mike McGinnis, Jason Henderson, Ryan Saffell, Rod Evans, Josh Baldwin, Brock Stevens, Chris Meadows, Derek Stefanick, Cody Rogers, Trey Watson, Shawn Jett, Josh Tonkin, Ed Shuman.
Jenkins Auto Parts UMP Modifieds: Jesse Wisecarver, Shawn Jett, Chad Smith, Doug Carson, Lance Elson, Kurt Rogers, Travis Thomas, Danny Thomas, Zach Newell, Justin Hart, Andy Taylor, Zach Robinson, Chris Basich, James Schnegg, Derek Duesenberry, Robin Ours, Daniel Eddy.
J&R Excavating RUSH Late Models: Brandon Weigle, Kyle Thomas, Donnie Dotson, Lane Brock, George Casto, Ryan Hare, Logan Reed, Allen Clark.
Middlebourne Galaxy Food Center Sportmods: Lance Weppler, Tyler Spencer, Wesley Reed, Sonny Conley, Levi Nolan, Allen Clark, Tommy Powell, Ron Pickens, Josalyn Hibbard, Tim Siddle, Al Smith, Kip Todd, Jeff Gorrell, Nic Green, Brad Lucas.
J&L Collision Center EDGE Hot Mods: Cody Brightwell, Brian Probst, Tim Spencer, Kevin Dotson, Carson Thomas, Mike Harter, Steve Magyar, Gavin Dennis, Eddie Ackerman, Ron Craddock, Lou Ennis, Michael Thomas, Eddie Probst, CJ Dotson, Tripp Perine, Mackenzie Dotson.
Dual Threat Sports Card SCDRA 4-Cylinders: Joey Price, Travis Corbin, Billy Dawson, Rob Siers, Timothy Harlan, Mitch Eddy, Joe Price, Michael Seevers, Jakob Chipps, Tim Harlan, Bobby Rymer, Mike Todd, Mark Lawrence, Noah Bubeck.
Hino Motors Manufacturing USA Mini-Wedges: (Senior Feature) Blake Tasker, Kayden Sexton, Gavin Casto, Leah Brightwell, Bryson Roberts, Addison Tasker, Kyndi Glover, Jake Casto, Jaycee Carpenter. (Junior Feature) Cruz Thomas, Jacob Miller, Easton Mayle, Colton Long, Colton Thomas, Kylee Thomas, Brentley Carson, Maddi Carpenter, Rowen Brightwell, Kristoff Kieper, (DQ) Peyton Gibson.
Submitted By: Dan Patterson
Article Media
